GMF brings together hundreds of policymakers, elected officials, academics, and business leaders from around the world to discuss topics from energy to migration, economics to security, urban growth to diplomacy.

Japan Trilateral Forum: Daily Analysis on the Conference

Japan Trilateral Forum Day 1:

European Disunion, Trump’s World, and Globalization in Reverse?

BRUSSELS — One of the best things about being an alumnus of the GMF Young Strategists Forum is having the opportunity to participate in some of GMF other fantastic events. This week, December 5–6, for example, I have the good fortune to be a fly on the wall at the third Japan Trilateral Forum in Brussels — a forum designed to encourage the development of Japan-Europe-U.S. relations by bringing together policymakers, intellectuals, journalists, and business leaders to discuss some of the most pressing issues in global politics.

The panels today addressed key challenges facing the liberal order as we know it — focusing especially on the consequences of Brexit for European unity and what the election of Trump in the United States means for U.S. foreign policy over the next four years.

Japan Trilateral Forum Day 2: Asian Regional Security

BRUSSELS — We’ve just concluded an expansive set of discussions on Northeast Asian security issues at GMF’s third Japan Trilateral Forum. Topics covered included China’s regional security interests, Russia’s role in the region, the Japan-U.S. alliance, and the North Korean nuclear threat.

Four Main Takeaways From the Third Japanese Trilateral Forum, Brussels

1. The Populist Wave:

By now it is abundantly clear that populism is afoot in the world — particularly in the U.K., U.S., and Europe — and perhaps to a lesser degree in Asia where Japan and India have witnessed their own populist movements.

2. There’s Nothing Like Good Friends:

There is no escaping the fact that the United States is going to need its friends over the next few years, perhaps more than it has done for a very long time.

3. The European Project:

Brexit is a big deal both in thinking about the continued unity of the European Union, but also the U.K.’s role in the world.

4. Speculation, speculation, and more speculation:

2016 has been a year full of surprises, many of which challenge the fundamental tenets of the western liberal order.